A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Australian lawyer to chair NI rights forum
An Australian human rights lawyer is to chair the new Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum, writes Dan Keenan.
Chris Sidoti is a human rights activist with NGOs and official human rights organisations. He has been a human rights consultant at home and internationally.
The appointment would bring an invaluable level of expertise to the work of the forum, NIO minister David Hanson said.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern also greeted the appointment.
Vigil in support of Ennis rape victim
About 40 people turned up last night for a candle- light vigil in Ennis in support of rape victim Mary Shannon who earlier this week asked the DPP to appeal the sentence handed down to her attacker.
On Monday, Adam Keane (20), from Darragh near Ennis, received a three-year suspended sentence after he was found guilty in February of raping the mother of three in her home in May 2005.
Sharon, a friend and former neighbour said: "There will be other protests and vigils and we will also be bringing it to the attention of our election candidates that we want to see a change in the law and mandatory sentences for those convicted of rape."
Imam says hijab 'an Islamic issue'
The wearing of the hijab was explained last night at a function in Dublin by Imam Hussein Halawa of the Irish Islamic Centre in Clonskeagh, who said that the hijab was an "essential Islamic issue".
The imam was speaking at a lecture entitled "From Mantillas to Hijabs: Are religious symbols acceptable in Ireland today?" at Rathfarnham parish church.
The talk forms part of the ecumenical Lent series of lectures organised by Rathfarnham parish, the church of the Holy Spirit, Ballyroan, and the church of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham.
While the hijab was seen as an Islamic symbol it was in fact "an Islamic obligation."
"Islam does not force the hijab on others," he said. "Just as nobody had the right to prevent people going to church, nobody has right to prevent Muslim women wearing the hijab."
Walker found in Galtee mountains
A 68-year-old man who got lost in the dark while hillwalking in the Galtee mountains was found in a wooded area yesterday morning. He was missing for more than 12 hours after getting lost in the Co Tipperary mountains on Wednesday night.
A team of 25 members from the Southeast Mountain Rescue Association were on the mountain at 1am and began searching popular hiking areas. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter joined the search at first light yesterday.